Hoofing- elates



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

'W. F. WEITMYER. DEVICE FOR S'EAMING ROOFING PLATES.

No. 465,906. Patented Dec. 29, 1891.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. P. WEITMYER. DEVICE FOR SBAMING ROOFING PLATES.

N0.'465,906. Patented Dec. 29, 1891.

(No Model.)

W. F. WEITMYER. DEVICE FOR SEAMING ROOFING PLATES.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Patented Dec 29, 1891.

a gig UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM F. W'EITMYER, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF 'IWVO-THIRDS TO ALFRED S. IIARBOLT AND MAURY D. JENKINS, OF

SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR SEAMING ROOFING-PLATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,906, dated December 29, 1891.

Application filed March 3, 1891. Serial No. 383,549. No model) clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to that class of devices designed to form the seams between the plates in laying metallic roofing; and it consists in a certain improved construction and combination of parts, which I will first describe and then point out particularly in the claims at the close of this specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 represents a top view, Fig. 2 a bot-' tom view, Fig. 0 a side view, and Fig. 4 an end View, of my improved device. Fig. 5 is a bottom view showing what I term the combined guide and holder, removed; Fig. 6, a sectional View taken on the line an as, Fig. 3; Fig. 7, a similar view taken on the line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a similar View taken on the line 2 2; Fig. 9, a similar view taken on the line u a; Fig. 10, a detached view of the combined guide and holder. Figs. 11,12, 13, and 14 represent the seam or joint at difierent stages. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one of the spiral guides.

Similar numerals and letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.-

The. letter A represents a frame-work of metal made strong enough to sustain the operative parts of the device and to withstand the pressure to which it is subjected in use. I preferably form it in three main parts-to wit, an an gle-plate a, constituting the top and ends, and two bottom plates a a secured to the angle-piece a by bolts a as shown, or otherwise.

Suitably journaled in bearings upon the ends of the angle-piece a are four wheels B, whose function is to support the device and enable it to travel with facility over the roof during the seaming operations.

As shown in Figs. 2 and a, the ends of the frame are slotted vertically at O to accommodate the upturned flanges of metal to be united.

Secured to the bottom plate a. is a spiral guide E, whose function is to impinge upon the upper portion of the longer flange S of the seam and turn said flange down into horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 7 and 12; and below this spiral guide E is arranged what Iterm a combined guide and holder F, which consists of a substantially flat portion fand about or flanged portion f, as shown particularly in Fig. 10. portion f between the points 1 and 2 constitutes a guide for the vertical flanges of the roofing-plates, while the flanged portion f between the points 3 and 4. affords the edge over which the preliminary turn or bend of the longer flange S is made by the action of the spiral guide E, as shown in Fig. 7.

Extending longitudinally of the plates a a and slightly overlapping the flanged portion f of the combined guide and holder just described,is a straight guide G, which assists in supporting the flanges of the sheeting while the preliminary bend is being made upon the longer flange, as well as during the subsequent bending operation. Opposite the straight guide G and slightly beyond the guide and holder F is a second spiral guide H, whose per portion of the flange S until it is substantially parallel with the. body portion, as shown in Fig. 8, and still farther along are two rollers I 1', whose functions are, first, to compress the turned-down flange S ,and, secondly, to,-by their traction upon the flanges, propel the device across the roof, so as to operate upon the whole length of the flanges. The roller I is preferably mounted in fixed bearings, while the roller 1' is mounted in adjustable spring-pressed bearings K, as shown, so that when the cross-joints uniting the sheets of metal reach the rollers the latter will separate and permit such cross-joints to be passed without obstructing the operation of the machine. lhe rollers I I are geared together by gears L L, and power is applied to the ex- The edge of the flat function is to further turn the uptended shaft of the roller I by means of a crank or other instrumentality. As will be observed by inspection of Fig. 7, the action of the first spiralguideE is to turn the flange i" down over the edge of the flanged portion of the combined guide and holder F. This position of said flanged portion beneath the turned-down flan geis maintained during the whole seaming operation, and by reason of it any tendency of the machine to run up off the flanges is more efiectually prevented. It is because of this function of holding the device down to its work that I have termed the part F a combined guide and holder. In other machines of this class various expedients have been resorted to to keep the machine to its work; but I have found this simple appliance entirely effective.

For the purpose of enabling the device to be disengaged from the flanges when desired, I slot the flat portion of the combined guide and holder F, as shown at 19 p, and through these slots I pass the shanks of clampingbolts q q, that also pass through the plate a and have at their upper ends a cam or other easily-operated fastening appliance. By loosening this cam the said guide and holder can be moved laterally and disengaged from the turned-down flange whenever it is necessary.

For the purpose of giving the final fold to the seam, so as to present a joint like that represented in Fig. 14, the machine must be again run over the flanges in the same manner as before; 0r,if it is desired to fully complete the joint at asingle operation, the frame of the machine maybe extended and a duplicate of the parts described added to such extended portion, as will be readily understood.

An objection heretofore existing to the use of rollers for giving the final finish to the seam has been that they were liable to break the metal at the edge of the seam, especially if the stock were not very good. I obviate this objection by decreasing the diameter of the.

roll I, as shown at m, so that it will accommod ate the turned-down portion of the flange, and I further cut away or round out said roller at the point 0, where the crown of the seam comes, the result of which is that the action of the rollers is to compress the metal below the crown of the flange, as shown in Fig. 1 and 10?]."6 the crown of the flange entirely free from the liability of rupture.

\Vlth my device the seams of metal roofing can be formed with great ease and facility, and the character of work done is much better than can be produced with the ordinary appliances.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In the herein-described seaming-m achine, the combination, with the frame and spiral guide for giving the preliminary turn to the flange, of the guide and holder having the long straight bearing surface underlying the spiral guide, and over which the said preliminary bend is made, whereby a long section of the flange is held against said guide and holder and the machine thereby prevented from risin'g, substantially as described.

2. In the herein-described seaming-machine, the combination, with the spiral guide, of the combined guide and holder, consisting of the substantially flat portion having a straight bearing-edge and the bent or flanged portion having a bearing-edge in line with that onthe flat portion, the straight guide, and the second spiral guide, substantially as described.

3. In the herein-described seaming-machine, the combination, with the stationary spiral guide, of the laterally-movable combined guide and holder having the flat portion and the bent or flanged portion, substantially as described.

I. In the herein-d escribed seaming-machine, the combination, with the spiral guide, of the laterally adj ustabie combined guide and holder, slotted, as described, and the bolts and locking devices for securing said guide and holder in adjusted position, substantially as described.

5. In the herein'described seaming-mach i no, the combinatiomwith theframe mounted upon wheels and having the slotted ends, of the two spiral guides, the straight guide, the combined guide and holder having the fiat portion and the flanged portion, and the feeding an d compressing rolls, substantially as described.

(5.111 the herein-described machine for seaming roofs, the combination, with the spirals and guides for bendingthe seam, as described, of the compressing and guiding rollerhaving the straight compressing-face and the groove or cut-out portion above said compressingface to accommodate the bend in the seam,

whereby pressure on the same and breaking of the stock are prevented, substantially as described.

WILLIAM F. WEITIA'IYER. IVitnesses:

EDGAR L. KING, .TAMus .TnNKINs. 

